Private plates and distance selling

[Simpo Two]

Just purchased a private registration number from Platehunter by CC. A moment later I wondered if it was for sale direct from DVLA. It was, and of course cheaper.

The confirmation e-mail from Platehunter arrived, and it says:

'Whilst nothing in these terms shall affect your rights as a consumer. Your rights under the Consumer Contract (Distance Selling) Regulations 2014 cease to apply upon accepting a contract to purchase the entitlement to display a registration mark. The provisions in the Distance Selling Regulations regarding cancellation and return do not apply to a personalised product such as a vehicle registration or a number plate. Such personalised products and services are exempt. Our service begins immediately and cannot be cancelled.'

Didn't see that anywhere when I was buying it; obviously well squirreled away. If they're right, my bad luck. But is what they say true - that 'personalised products' are exempt? It wasn't made to order for me, the reg already existed. Thoughts?


(rest of TCs here https://www.platehunter.com/terms-conditions )

[595Heaven]

I don't think that is too unfair. They are providing a service and will actually need to purchase the registration on yur behalf, and the DVLA website makes clear they can refuse to refund resellers 'We reserve the right to refuse cancellation requests from businesses and in cases where any purchases have been bought with the intent to re-sell.'

https://dvlaregistrations.dvla.gov.uk/help/#cancel...

[Simpo Two]

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA; I suspect my order will be processed manually on Monday. So it seems I could buy it now from DVLA, and when Platehunter go to do it it's gone and they'll have to refund me as it's not available.

But then we have: '2.12 All registration marks are sold subject to availability and although Platehunter checks the availability of every registration mark before advertising and selling, we cannot accept responsibility should the registration become unavailable due to error, default or action on the part of a donor, or in the unlikely event of failure of the transfer at Vehicle Registration Office level. In these circumstances Platehunter will try and find a suitable replacement registration mark or refund the purchaser in full. Liability will be limited to a full refund.'

Great. But it then says: 'In cases where failure is in some way due to the fault of the purchaser, no liability will be accepted and no claims for damages, interest on monies paid or any other expenses will be entertained.'

Failure would be due to me, but would they know that? All things considered, if they stuck to their guns I could end up paying twice, and it's not worth the risk for the possible saving. Caveat emptor; Simpo slinks off into the undergrowth

[Mr Pointy]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA; I suspect my order will be processed manually on Monday. So it seems I could buy it now from DVLA, and when Platehunter go to do it it's gone and they'll have to refund me as it's not available.

But then we have: '2.12 All registration marks are sold subject to availability and although Platehunter checks the availability of every registration mark before advertising and selling, we cannot accept responsibility should the registration become unavailable due to error, default or action on the part of a donor, or in the unlikely event of failure of the transfer at Vehicle Registration Office level. In these circumstances Platehunter will try and find a suitable replacement registration mark or refund the purchaser in full. Liability will be limited to a full refund.'

Great. But it then says: 'In cases where failure is in some way due to the fault of the purchaser, no liability will be accepted and no claims for damages, interest on monies paid or any other expenses will be entertained.'

Failure would be due to me, but would they know that? All things considered, if they stuck to their guns I could end up paying twice, and it's not worth the risk for the possible saving. Caveat emptor; Simpo slinks off into the undergrowth

Get a mate/wife/partner/SO (trying to be inclusive!) to buy it quick & then transfer it later.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA;

When I bought my plate, three months on and it was still showing as available to buy at virtually every 3rd part seller.

I had to contact them all individually to ask for it to be removed, some would only agree on me providing physical proof (retention certificate) that I owned it. I would say it took another three months for all of them to remove it.

[Simpo Two]

Ham_and_Jam said:

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA;

When I bought my plate, three months on and it was still showing as available to buy at virtually every 3rd part seller.

That involves another link though; DVLA should be 'horse's mouth'.

Why did it concern you that the plate was still showing as available? Nobody else could have bought it because eventually the system would work out the error.

That might be why, when I spoke to Mr Platehunter today, he said that 99% of transfers go through with just a scan of the V5, and I'd only need to post him the actual V5 if it was one of the 1%.

[48k]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA; I suspect my order will be processed manually on Monday. So it seems I could buy it now from DVLA, and when Platehunter go to do it it's gone and they'll have to refund me as it's not available.

But then we have: '2.12 All registration marks are sold subject to availability and although Platehunter checks the availability of every registration mark before advertising and selling, we cannot accept responsibility should the registration become unavailable due to error, default or action on the part of a donor, or in the unlikely event of failure of the transfer at Vehicle Registration Office level. In these circumstances Platehunter will try and find a suitable replacement registration mark or refund the purchaser in full. Liability will be limited to a full refund.'

Great. But it then says: 'In cases where failure is in some way due to the fault of the purchaser, no liability will be accepted and no claims for damages, interest on monies paid or any other expenses will be entertained.'

Failure would be due to me, but would they know that? All things considered, if they stuck to their guns I could end up paying twice, and it's not worth the risk for the possible saving. Caveat emptor; Simpo slinks off into the undergrowth

Only if you told them.

[jeremyc]

48k said:

Simpo Two said:

Thanks. Interestingly the plate is still showing as available at DVLA; I suspect my order will be processed manually on Monday. So it seems I could buy it now from DVLA, and when Platehunter go to do it it's gone and they'll have to refund me as it's not available.

But then we have: '2.12 All registration marks are sold subject to availability and although Platehunter checks the availability of every registration mark before advertising and selling, we cannot accept responsibility should the registration become unavailable due to error, default or action on the part of a donor, or in the unlikely event of failure of the transfer at Vehicle Registration Office level. In these circumstances Platehunter will try and find a suitable replacement registration mark or refund the purchaser in full. Liability will be limited to a full refund.'

Great. But it then says: 'In cases where failure is in some way due to the fault of the purchaser, no liability will be accepted and no claims for damages, interest on monies paid or any other expenses will be entertained.'

Failure would be due to me, but would they know that? All things considered, if they stuck to their guns I could end up paying twice, and it's not worth the risk for the possible saving. Caveat emptor; Simpo slinks off into the undergrowth

Only if you told them.

Or posted it publicly on one of the largest motoring forums in the country, clearly identifying the vendor's name.

[Simpo Two]

jeremyc said:

48k said:

Only if you told them.

Or posted it publicly on one of the largest motoring forums in the country, clearly identifying the vendor's name.

1) Two sales of the same number on the same day could have seemed suspicious.

2) I considered it acceptable risk for the scale of the decision and sum involved. The decision was made quickly, and surprising as it may seem to us regulars, only a minority of the population use PH, let alone the the Business forum. There is Google alert of course, but overall I reasoned that he has better things to do than patrol the internet

[48k]

Simpo Two said:

jeremyc said:

48k said:

Only if you told them.

Or posted it publicly on one of the largest motoring forums in the country, clearly identifying the vendor's name.

1) Two sales of the same number on the same day could have seemed suspicious.

2) I considered it acceptable risk for the scale of the decision and sum involved. The decision was made quickly, and surprising as it may seem to us regulars, only a minority of the population use PH, let alone the the Business forum. There is Google alert of course, but overall I reasoned that he has better things to do than patrol the internet

How would the number plate reseller know that the plate had been sold by the DVLA on the same day? It would simply show as sold when they come to try and buy it.

I think you are over thinking this.

[Jon39]

The most important question John, is have you bought a really good plate ?
Can I guess ? DB09 JOH.

Bad plate - I have a nutty friend who bought (not the .actual characters) AE11 ALF
Seeing the 11 on his car, I said to him, "I thought you had just bought a new car".
"It is new" was the reply, with me remaining completely mystified.
"The A stands for Alf, the E for Eileen (his wife) and ALF is part of my name."
I have always known he is nuts, but clearly, he has now entered the realms of certified looney.
He is the only person in the world, who knows that is supposed to be a 'private registration'


Good plate - all of the dateless plates.

[MustangGT]

Jon39 said:

The most important question John, is have you bought a really good plate ?
Can I guess ? DB09 JOH.

Bad plate - I have a nutty friend who bought (not the .actual characters) AE11 ALF
Seeing the 11 on his car, I said to him, "I thought you had just bought a new car".
"It is new" was the reply, with me remaining completely mystified.
"The A stands for Alf, the E for Eileen (his wife) and ALF is part of my name."
I have always known he is nuts, but clearly, he has now entered the realms of certified looney.
He is the only person in the world, who knows that is supposed to be a 'private registration'


Good plate - all of the dateless plates.

A personal plate does not have to mean anything to anybody else, it is, after all, a 'personal' plate.

[Jon39]

MustangGT said:

A personal plate does not have to mean anything to anybody else, it is, after all, a 'personal' plate.

Yes, I suppose the phrase 'personal' plate is a strange description, because every registration mark is unique and is personal to each keeper anyway.

[DaveTheRave87]

Jon39 said:

Yes, I suppose the phrase 'personal' plate is a strange description, because every registration mark is unique and is personal to each keeper anyway.

As true as that is, the term "cherished plate" made me want to shove the front numberplate down their throat and the back numberplate...

I suppose "vanity plate" is the best description and I can say that because I've got one.

OP, you can pay the price you agreed for the plate or you can try going behind the company's back and end up scamming yourself.

[Simpo Two]

DaveTheRave87 said:

scamming yourself.

Not sure what that means, but the new plates arrived yesterday, the V5 came back today and insurers have been informed, so it's all done. At the end of the day the £50 or so extra that the agent cost was OK because I did have a couple of questions and they were answered quickly and effectively - so they did add something useful to the equation.